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Madagascar Wildlife Tour

There is no more unique landscape on earth in which to discover exotic wildlife than on the isolated island of Madagascar. We explore the rainforests, nature reserves and national parks in search of the many species of endangered lemur. We travel from the Malagasy capital ‘Tana’ across volcanic lakes and sandstone rock formations to the golden shores of the Indian Ocean.

Tour Highlights

Andasibe Reserve - Track the Indri lemur and the remarkable wildlife in the primary forest of Mantadia.

Antsirabe - Walk along a stunning crater lake in Tritriva.

Highland Scenery - Rice paddies, villages and colourful markets.

Ranomafana - Walk in the rainforest and observe various species of lemurs, chameleons and amphibians.

Isalo National Park - Explore the 'Grand Canyon' of Madagascar and meet troops of Ring-tailed lemurs.

Itinerary

1

Join tour Antananarivo

Arrive in Antananarivo. The city is cheerfully stacked on the sloping sides of the Highlands. This medieval capital is affectionately known as 'Tana', enjoys a pleasant climate (1350m).

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
None

2

Drive to Andasibe Reserve, view wildlife

Today we will drive to Andasibe village otherwise known as Perinet. Although only eight square kilometres, Andasibe Reserve boasts nine species of Lemur, including the largest, the Indri indri, whose piercing voice can be heard throughout the forest. Colourful chameleons and many birds can also be seen as we spend the day walking trails in this beautiful forested reserve. There may also be a chance of an optional walk round the local village outside the reserve as well as a nocturnal walk in search of wildlife.

Overnight: Standard LodgeSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

3

Visit Mantadia National Park

This morning we have a chance to do some birdwatching before driving to Mantadia national park. Here we will take a walk in the park where we have a chance to see Black and White Ruffed lemur, Diademe Sifaka. This area is also good for bird watching. On return to Andasibe in the afternoon there will be optional visit to a private reserve with more opportunities to spot birds and amphibians.

Overnight: Standard LodgeSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

4

Drive to Antsirabe

Heading south we reach the spa town of Antsirabe, the coolest place in Madagascar. Its climate made it a favourite spot with European missionaries and their influence can still be seen in the colonial architecture and churches. Antsirabe is also the agricultural and administrative centre of Madagascar and is also regarded as the ‘pousse-pousse’ capital.

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

5

Lake Tritriva; drive to Ambositra

This morning we drive to the volcanic Lake of Tritriva. Local myths and taboos have grown up around this mysterious lake which seems to have many guises, changing colour from one day to the next. We have the opportunity to walk round the lake before driving to Ambositra in the afternoon. We’ll visit some of the craft shops, which produce carvings of Malagasy life, furniture and detailed marquetry work. We shall stay at a local development guest house, and there may be the opportunity to enjoy a traditional
Malagasy meal and see a folk dancing display this evening. Although the accommodation we use on this night stop is modest and of lower standard than what is provided throughout the rest of the trip, by staying here we directly support an important base for the development of health projects, agriculture, water supply and the empowerment of women within the local community. The accommodation is dormitory style, simple but clean, with shared facilities. Hot water is not available.

Overnight: Simple Community House

Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

6

Drive to Ranomafana National Park

The drive to Ranomafana takes up most of the day, however the winding road passes varied landscapes of rugged ridges, huge boulders and rural villages surrounded by rice paddies. En route we will stop in Ialatsara for lunch. In 1987 in Ranomafana National Park a new species of lemur named the Golden Bamboo was found. There are many hidden waterfalls and the Namorona river flows through some impressive gorges, flanked on either side by tropical rainforest.

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

7

In Ranomafana National Park

This morning will will enter the park for an early morning walk, but you may choose to do some optional birdwatching before this. Most lemur species are endangered, the last survivors of a once abundant family of primates, now confined to pockets of forest and bush throughout Madagascar. Deforestation has taken a heavy toll on these arboreal creatures – about 80 species remain. With luck we may see some of the species found in the park including Red-Bellied lemur, Grey Bamboo lemur, Milne-Edwards’ sifaka and perhaps the Black and White Ruffed lemur and the extremely rare Golden Bamboo lemur. We may also spot the Malagasy boa constrictor, chameleons, the black parrot, cuckoo roller and many other birds. In the afternoon there will be an additional optional walk within the park with a chance to spot the species not already seen during the morning.

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast, Dinner

8

Drive to Isalo National Park (Ranohira)

Returning to the main road this morning, we continue south via the regional capital of Fianarantsoa, the academic centre of Madagascar. Leaving the highland plateau and descending through superb mountain scenery to the plains we pause at Ambalavao paper workshop before arriving at Anja Community Reserve. Here we have the chance to watch troupes of ring-tailed lemur among the granite boulders. Continuing south the pine trees thin out and the fertile soil of the highlands gives way to drier savannah, cactus, termite mounds, and the dust of the midsouth. We finally reach our destination late in the afternoon. Ranohira, situated on the edge of the Isalo National Park.

Overnight: Standard HotelSwimming Pool AvailableSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast, Dinner

9

Explore Isalo National Park

One of the highlights of our trip is Madagascar’s ‘Grand Canyon’ in Isalo National Park. Dervla Murphy, in her book ‘Muddling through Madagascar’ describes it thus – 'Landscapes that are literally incredible. You don’t believe it. You think you’re hallucinating. How can wind and water have done all this?'. Natural erosion has produced fantastic canyons and bizarre outcrops of wind-blasted sandstone. Sparse dry deciduous forest, including species of dwarf-like baobab and succulents, is found in the park. We plan to walk to a natural oasis pool known as ‘Piscine Naturelle’ and see tombs of the Bara people. This afternoon you have the opportunity to take an optional walk within the park to Namaza to see the Cascade des Nymphes.

Overnight: Standard HotelSwimming Pool AvailableSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

10

Drive to Toliara

This morning we continue our journey south. The temperature rises as we lose height and head for the coast, crossing the savannah plain, dotted with herds of Zebu cattle. The south of Madagascar is largely desert, and weird cactus-like plants unique to the island smother the land and make up the vast areas of so called ‘spiny desert’. Close to Sakaraha is the Zombitse National Park. Here we will walk near the remarkable dry forest which is home to many birds, including black parrots, the Madagascar buzzard and the cuckoo roller. The very rare Apperts’ Greenbull is also here. As we continue our drive, we’ll pass by a number of fascinating Mahafaly Tombs before reaching the town of Toliara once an important port of call for Dutch and English ships plying the trade routes during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Overnight: Simple HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

11

Boat to Anakao; free afternoon

After breakfast this morning we transfer by boat from Toliara to the small fishing village of Anakao, located to the south, just past the Onilahy river estuary. The rich turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean beckon from our beach hideaway. Please note: due to limited space on the boat we kindly request that you take a smaller overnight bag to Anakao. Your main luggage will be stored in Toliara.

Overnight: Simple HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast, Dinner

12

In Anakao; optional snorkelling visit to Nosy Ve

Today has again been left free to enjoy Anakao.You may wish to spend your day here relaxing on the beach; alternatively there is the option to take a trip out to the island of Nosy Ve, located just off Anakao’s western shore. The island is still considered a sacred site for the local Vezo people and with its reefs and colonies of Red-tailed tropicbirds, it is an ideal place to soak up the tropical atmosphere of this island paradise, and an opportunity to do some snorkelling.

Overnight: Simple HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast, Dinner

13

Transfer to Toliara and fly to Tana.

This morning we depart Anakao and return to Toliara for our flight back to Tana, where we will spend the night.

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

14

Visit Ambohimanga and Lemur Park

This morning we head to the oldest palace in Madagascar situated on Ambohimanga, a forested hill, north of Antananarivo. It was from this fortress that the Merina, a highland tribe, first established an effective administration and military command under the King Andrianampoinamerina. The fort includes the original king's hut and later European buildings. From here we have magnificent views over the fertile rice fields below. We will then continue on to the Lemur Park which is located approximately 25km outside Tana. Nine species of lemurs coming from different regions of Madagascar wander freely in this botanical garden covering an area of five hectares of small forest situated by the Katsoaka River. The park also contains many species of the flora of Madagascar. In the afternoon you may have a chance for some last minute sightseeing or shopping in Tana before our final night of the tour.

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

15

Tour ends Tana

Tour notes

Each departure date has it's own dedicated tour note, detailing all you need to know about that tour. Whether you've already booked, or weighing up your options, please choose carefully the relevant itinerary for you.

We have the following different versions of the The Lost Continent tour available at present.